Sports Betting, Problem Gambling Tackled at MU Summer Institute in July

The National Problem Gambling Helpline 2025 Annual Report indicates that how people gamble is changing dramatically. "Traditional slot machines and electronic gaming are declining as a primary concern, dropping from 36% to 31% of contacts. Meanwhile, online and app-based gambling surged to 31% of reports, up from 23% the previous year. Sports betting and card games are also on the rise. These aren't just statistics; they reflect real shifts in how gambling is marketed, accessed, and experienced in daily life."

The Summer Institute hosted by Millersville University's Department of Wellness and Sport Sciences in partnership with Compass Mark, the science-based addiction prevention organization headquartered in Lancaster County, will tackle the issue of "Sports Betting and Problem Gambling: Strategies for Prevention and Treatment."

The Institute is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 6 to 10, in McComsey Hall's Myers Auditorium. Registration is available here.

Monday morning keynote speaker (9 a.m.) is Dr. Harry Levant, director of gambling policy with the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University. Levant has been featured on 60 minutes, CNN with Anderson Cooper and CBS Sunday morning.

A panel of local experts that includes Millersville alumni are also scheduled to speak during the Summer Institute:

• Mitchell Crawford '09, director of addiction services for WellSpan Health: "The way that I work with patients with addictive disorders is the same way that I work with patients with other chronic medical diseases. From a place of compassion and curiosity to help without judgement, we engage in shared decision making about the evidence-based approaches to help them achieve their treatment goals."

• Margo Thorwart '17, director of Millersville University's Center for Health Education and Promotion and adjunct professor for the Department of Wellness and Sport Sciences, will present on gambling among college students: "Sports betting and gambling prevention differs from some other prevention efforts because gambling-related harms are often less visible and can be more socially normalized, particularly through sports culture and online platforms. Prevention efforts require increased focus on financial wellness, impulse control, mental health and digital accessibility, while also helping students recognize how gambling behaviors can impact academic success, relationships and overall well-being."

• Abby Peters '06, Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor with a competency in gambling disorders and owner of Shharp Counseling in Manheim, Pa., will discuss the debate between abstinence and harm reduction in recovery: "The approach to gambling recovery involves meeting the person where they are at and fully accessing their goals for recovery. Additionally, it is important to access the difference between their primary form of gambling that was destructive and other forms of gambling."

Summer Institutes provide educators and administrators with quality instruction, knowledgeable speakers and faculty, and strategies/techniques to take back to the classroom, all delivered in a one-week course format. Check out the full schedule here.